Malik Obama

Last updated

Malik Obama
Malik Obama.png
Born
Abon'go Malik Obama

March 15, 1958 (aged 66)
Nairobi, British Kenya
(present-day Kenya)
Other namesRoy
Citizenship
  • Kenya
  • United States [1]
Alma mater University of Nairobi
Occupation(s)Businessperson, former political candidate
Known forFormer President Barack Obama's half-brother
Political party Republican (since 2016)
Parent
Relatives
Family Obama family

Abon'go Malik "Roy" Obama (born March 15, 1958) is a Kenyan-American businessman and former political candidate known for being the older half-brother of 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, and the eldest son of economist Barack Obama Sr.

Contents

Biography

Abon'go Malik "Roy" Obama was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. [2] [3] His parents are economist Barack Obama Sr. and his first wife, Kezia Obama (née Aoko). [4] Obama earned a degree in accounting from the University of Nairobi. [5] He met his younger half-brother, Barack Obama, for the first time in 1985, [2] when Barack flew from Chicago to Washington, D.C., to visit Malik. [6] According to him, the two each served as best man at the other's wedding. [2] Barack brought his wife, Michelle Obama, to Kenya three years later, seeing Malik again while meeting many other relatives for the first time. [7] Malik Obama is Muslim. [8]

Malik Obama lives in the Obamas' ancestral home, Nyang'oma Kogelo, a village of several hundred people, preferring its slow pace to that of the city. [2] Until 2004, he ran a small electronics shop a half-hour's drive away in another town. [2] Since 2008, Obama has run the Barack H. Obama Foundation, founded in memory of his father, Barack Obama Sr. [9] [10]

Obama is a dual citizen of both Kenya and the United States. [1] He is a frequent visitor to the United States, [7] and works as a consultant in Washington, D.C., for several months each year. [2] He was registered to vote in Maryland as of 2016. [3]

Political candidacy and advocacy

During his brother's 2008 presidential campaign, Malik Obama was a spokesman for the extended Obama family in Kenya. He dealt with safety and privacy concerns arising from the increased attention from the press. [11]

In early 2013, Obama ran for governor of the Kenyan county of Siaya. [12] His campaign slogan was "Obama here, Obama there" in reference to his half-brother who was serving his second term as the President of the United States. Obama garnered 2,792 votes, about 140,000 votes behind the eventual winner. [13]

Prior to the 2016 United States presidential election, Obama stated that he supported Donald Trump, the candidate for the Republican Party. [14] He attended the third presidential debate as one of Trump's guests. [15]

On June 12, 2020, Malik Obama reportedly endorsed United States president Donald Trump, [16] and later in the week posted a fake and historically inaccurate birth certificate of Barack Obama in support of the Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories. The birth certificate alleges the US President was born in the Republic of Kenya in 1961, despite the Republic of Kenya not being founded until December 12, 1964. The faux Kenyan certificate also contained a seal which read South Australia, further affirming its lack of authenticity. [17] [18] His sister Auma (among others) condemned him for promoting the theory. [19] Over the past few years, he has consistently taken to news sites to express his adverse opinions about his brother, alleging that he made a pact with the Devil. [20]

Related Research Articles

WND is an American far-right news website. It is known for promoting fake news and conspiracy theories, including the false claim that former President Barack Obama was born outside the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Mboya</span> Kenyan politician and independence activist (1930–1969)

Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya was a Kenyan trade unionist, educator, Pan-Africanist, author, independence activist, and statesman. He was one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Kenya. He led the negotiations for independence at the Lancaster House Conferences and was instrumental in the formation of Kenya's independence party – the Kenya African National Union (KANU) – where he served as its first Secretary-General. He laid the foundation for Kenya's capitalist and mixed economy policies at the height of the Cold War and set up several of the country's key labour institutions. Mboya was Minister for Economic Planning and Development when he was assassinated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenyatta University</span> University in Nairobi, Kenya

Kenyatta University (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Nairobi. It acquired the status of university in 1985, being the third university after University of Nairobi (1970) and Moi University (1984). As of October 2014, it was one of 23 public universities in the country.

Huruma is a low-income residential estate located in the northeast of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. It borders Kariobangi and Dandora to the east, Moi Air Base to the south, Mathare to the north to west and Eastleigh to the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Allyn Root</span> American political commentator (born 1961)

Wayne Allyn Root is an American conservative television and radio host, author, activist, conservative political commentator and conspiracy theorist. He is the host of two new television shows, daily at 7 PM ET on Lindell TV network (FrankSpeech.com) and Saturdays at Noon ET "America's Top Ten Countdown with Wayne Allyn Root" on Real America's Voice TV Network. He is also the radio host of "Wayne Allyn Root: Raw & Unfiltered" on AM 670 in Las Vegas and nationally-syndicated on the USA Radio Network, and formerly on Newsmax TV. Root was an opinion columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. His newspaper columns are currently nationally syndicated on Sundays by Creators Syndicate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenya–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Kenya–United States relations are bilateral relations between Kenya and the United States. Kenya and the United States have long been close allies and have enjoyed cordial relations since Kenya's independence. Relations became even closer after Kenya's democratic transition of 2002 and subsequent improvements in human rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barack Obama Sr.</span> Economist, and the father of Barack Obama II

Barack Hussein Obama Sr. was a Kenyan senior governmental economist and the father of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States. He is a central figure of his son's memoir, Dreams from My Father (1995). Obama married in 1954 and had two children with his first wife, Kezia. He was selected for a special program to attend college in the United States and studied at the University of Hawaii where he met Stanley Ann Dunham, whom he married in 1961 following the conception of his son, Barack. Obama and Dunham divorced three years later. Obama then went to Harvard University for graduate school, where he earned an M.A. in economics, and returned to Kenya in 1964. He saw his son Barack once more, when his son was about 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family of Barack Obama</span> List of members of the family of Barack Obama

The family of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, is a prominent American family active in law, education, activism and politics. Obama's immediate family circle was the first family of the United States from 2009 to 2017, and are the first such family of African-American descent. His immediate family includes his wife Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auma Obama</span> Kenyan-British community activist, journalist and author

Rita Auma Obama is a Kenyan-British community activist, sociologist, journalist, author, and half-sister of the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama. Obama serves as the executive chairwoman of Sauti Kuu Foundation, a non-profit organisation that helps orphans and other young people struggling with poverty in Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories</span> Debunked conspiracy theories

During Barack Obama's campaign for president in 2008, throughout his presidency and afterwards, there was extensive news coverage of Obama's religious preference, birthplace, and of the individuals questioning his religious belief and citizenship – efforts eventually known as the "birther movement", by which name it is widely referred to across media. The movement falsely asserted Obama was ineligible to be President of the United States because he was not a natural-born citizen of the United States as required by Article Two of the Constitution. Studies have found these birther conspiracy theories to be most firmly held by Republicans strong in both political knowledge and racial resentment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Pfeiffer</span> American political advisor and commentator (born 1975)

Howard Daniel Pfeiffer is an American political advisor, author, and podcast host. He was senior advisor to President Barack Obama for strategy and communications from 2013 to 2015.

Obama is a surname. It most commonly refers to Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Corsi</span> American conservative author (born 1946)

Jerome Robert Corsi is an American conspiracy theorist and author. His two New York Times best-selling books, Unfit for Command (2004) and The Obama Nation (2008), attacked Democratic presidential candidates and have been criticized by opposition.

Numerous lawsuits and ballot challenges, based on conspiracy theories related to Barack Obama's eligibility for the United States presidency, were filed following his first election in 2008 and over the course of his two terms as president. These actions sought to have Obama disqualified from running for, or being confirmed for, the Presidency of the United States, to declare his actions in office to be null and void, or to compel him to release additional documentation related to his U.S. citizenship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Brown (impersonator)</span> American entertainer (born 1980)

Reginald Dennis Odell II is a writer, actor, comedic impersonator and look-alike of former U.S. President Barack Obama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States presidential election in New Mexico</span> Election in New Mexico

The 2012 United States presidential election in New Mexico took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. This was the 25th U.S. presidential election in which New Mexico participated. New Mexico voters chose five electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan.

<i>Dreams from My Real Father</i> 2012 American film

Dreams from My Real Father: A Story of Reds and Deception is a 2012 American film by Joel Gilbert. It presents his conspiracy theory that U.S. President Barack Obama's biological father was Frank Marshall Davis, an American poet and labor activist in Chicago and Hawaii, rather than Barack Obama Sr. The film claims that Davis, who had been a closet member of the Communist Party USA, influenced Obama's ideology, a claim disputed by Obama biographer David Remnick. The title is derived from Obama's memoir about his early life, Dreams from My Father (1995). Reviews of the film were generally negative, noting that Gilbert had not proved any of his allegations, and the film was described as a "pseudo-documentary" and in "bad taste".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political positions of Donald Trump</span> Views and policies of the former US President

The political positions of Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, have frequently changed. Trump has been primarily called a protectionist on trade. He has also been called and calls himself a populist, semi-isolationist, nationalist and other political categories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States presidential election in New York</span>

The 2016 United States presidential election in New York was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. New York voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and her running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. New York has 29 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayleigh McEnany</span> American political commentator and author (born 1988)

Kayleigh McEnany is an American conservative political commentator, television personality, and writer who served the administration of Donald Trump as the 33rd White House press secretary from April 2020 to January 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 Seftel, Briana (October 19, 2016). "Who Is Malik Obama? At Last Debate, Trump Supporter And Half-Brother Of The President To Be Guest Of Republican Nominee". International Business Times .
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Maliti, Tom (October 26, 2004). "Obama's Brother Chooses Life in Slow Lane". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 28, 2006.
  3. 1 2 Lind, Dara (October 19, 2016). "Why Donald Trump is bringing Barack Obama's half-brother to the debate". Vox .
  4. jpt (June 18, 2008). "From the Fact Check Desk: What Did Obama's Half-Brother Say About Obama's Background". ABC News.
  5. Obama, Barack H. (1995). Dreams from My Father . Times Books. p. 265. ISBN   1-4000-8277-3.
  6. Obama, Barack H. (1995). Dreams from My Father . Times Books. p. 262. ISBN   1-4000-8277-3.
  7. 1 2 Oywa, John (August 15, 2004). "Sleepy Little Village Where Obama Traces His Own Roots". Daily Nation .
  8. Bearak, Max (October 19, 2016). "The story behind President Obama's half brother Malik, whom Trump invited to tonight's debate". The Washington Post .
  9. Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon (May 9, 2013). "Barack H Obama Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved August 16, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. "Homepage - Welcome to The Barack H. Obama Foundation". www.barackhobamafoundation.org. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  11. Warah, Rasna (June 9, 2008). "We cannot lay claims on Obama; he's not one of us – Obama in this world". Daily Nation .
  12. Gichana, David (January 14, 2013). "Obama's Step-Brother Will Seek Governorship of Kenyan County". Bloomberg Businessweek .
  13. Walker, Hunter (March 7, 2013). "President Obama's Brother Loses Election in Kenya". The New York Observer .
  14. Vincent, Isabel (July 24, 2016). "Why Obama's half-brother says he'll be voting for Donald Trump". New York Post .
  15. Begley, Sarah (October 18, 2016). "Donald Trump Is Bringing President Obama's Half-Brother to the Third Debate". Time .
  16. Wanjohi, John. "Malik Obama Throws Support Behind Donald Trump, William Ruto". www.mwakilishi.com. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  17. Mwangi, Nick (June 16, 2020). "Obama's Brother Malik Tweets FAKE Birth Certificate Showing Obama Was Born in Kenya, Calls Him 'Stingy'". Nairobi Wire.
  18. Wanjohi, John. "Malik Obama Tweets Fake Barack Obama's Kenyan Birth Certificate". www.mwakilishi.com. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  19. "Auma Obama calls out brother Malik over fake Barack Obama birth certificate". Citizentv.co.ke. June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  20. "'Sold His Soul to the Devil': Barack Obama's Estranged Brother Malik Shares Throwback Photo of the Former President, Calls Him a 'Snake' and a 'Trader' In Twitter Rant". Yahoo News. August 16, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
Listen to this article (3 minutes)
Sound-icon.svg
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 6 November 2019 (2019-11-06), and does not reflect subsequent edits.